World no. 11 Stefanos Tsitsipas is the brand new champion of the Dubai Obligation Free Tennis Championships! The Greek defeated Felix Auger-Aliassime 6-3, 6-3 in an hour and 28 minutes, celebrating his twelfth ATP title and the primary since April final 12 months.
Tsitsipas lastly broke the spell on the ATP 500 occasions, shedding the opening 11 finals earlier than conquering the twelfth in model. The Greek added 500 ATP factors to his tally, and he’ll make a top-10 return on Monday. Tsitsipas and Auger-Aliassime battle for the tenth time.
The extra skilled participant offered his seventh victory, shedding as soon as within the earlier eight duels in opposition to the Canadian.
2022 Rotterdam:
Felix Auger-Aliassime, beforehand 0-8 in ATP stage finals, wins first profession title in opposition to Stefanos Tsitsipas
2025 Dubai:
Stefanos Tsitsipas, beforehand 0-11 in ATP 500 finals, wins first title at this stage in opposition to Felix Auger-Aliassime pic.twitter.com/IlGERVYe9v
— Bastien Fachan (@BastienFachan) March 1, 2025
Stefanos collected 12 factors greater than Felix. Each layers struggled behind the second serve, and world no. 11 made the distinction with the primary. Tsitsipas erased all seven break factors and mounted the stress on his in-form opponent.
Auger-Aliassime performed in opposition to six break factors and suffered three breaks, ending runner up in his third ATP ultimate of the season. The Greek landed 16 winners and 20 unforced errors, whereas his rival stood on a 19-22 ratio. Stefanos cast a 23-15 benefit in service winners.
He outplayed his opponent from the baseline and on the internet to emerge as a deserved winner. The Canadian made a dependable begin and created two break possibilities within the fourth sport of the duel. The Greek denied them with winners and held to keep away from an early setback.
Stefanos drew Felix’s mistake within the sixth sport and stepped in on the return within the subsequent one. Auger-Aliassime confronted three break factors and sprayed a forehand on the final to fall 4-3 behind. Tsitsipas denied two break factors within the eighth sport and held for 5-3.
He made one other push on the return in sport 9 and welcomed one other free forehand from his opponent to wrap up the opener 6-3. The Greek performed in opposition to two break factors within the third sport of the second set. He saved them with superb hitting and stored his preliminary shot intact.
It was Felix’s flip to face break possibilities within the subsequent one. The Canadian denied two break factors and locked the outcome at 2-2. World no. 11 squandered 4 sport factors in sport seven and supplied his opponent the seventh and final break level.
Stefanos saved it cracked a forehand crosscourt winner to convey the sport house and gathered a lift. Auger-Aliassime despatched a forehand lengthy within the eighth sport, dropping serve and propelling the 4th seed 5-3 in entrance.
Tsitsipas served for the title in sport 9 and welcomed the rival’s free backhand to generate three match factors. He cracked an ace on the primary, incomes a much-needed title and making a top-10 return.
